Hello Heidi - many thanks for answering my previous questions and here's another for my type B, 50 year old husband. He has swollen parotid glands on both sides of his face, and his only other symptom is a dry mouth. He has had this problem for a few years now. I have used the Eat Right Encyclopedia and found Sjorgen's Syndrome - would it be helpful to follow the Chronic Illness Protocol and Anti-Inflammation Protocol - the only problem being that we cannot get phosphatidyl, OPC's and jiaogulan. He takes 2.5mg bendrofluazide daily, has oats every day but they have not his blood pressure down, and a multi mineral/vitamin. Do you have any ideas? Many thanks in advance - Cynthia

Hello, Cynthia! Sjögren's is statistically rather uncommon in men; if memory serves me, 90% of the patients are women, although of course your husband could be among that remaining 10%. Another possibility is sialolithiasis, in which calculi, or stones, form in the salivary glands, accompanied by some infection -- again, a long shot, as only 10-20% of these cases involve the parotid glands, but still possible.

What I'd like him to do as soon as possible is see a doctor (preferably a naturopath). He should get a professional diagnosis, to make sure that no other serious illness is involved.

It will certainly help him to follow both those protocols. Could you let me know why you can't get the PC and jiaogulan? Is it that you don't find them in the UK, or some other reason? Do make use of the BTD-UK discussion group, as they're well positioned to share information on shopping matters. OPCs are abundant in berries & other plant foods, so there are other ways to get that particular supp without buying a supp per se. For him, loading up on the dark red & purple fruits/berries from that fabulous B fruit list, for example. Do let me know about the supps, OK? and I wish you both all the best!! :-D

Hello again, and thanks for answering my last question. NAP offers a number of different supplements for sinus congestion due to allergies, i.e., Urtica Dioica, Quercetin Plus and Collinsonia Plus. I've tried the Quercetin with limited success, but from reading your last column, I think I've been underdosing it and incorrectly expected immediate results. I'll try increasing the dose and be more patient. Anyway, when do you recommend one supplement over the other for congestion due to allergies? Thanks again. Todd

Hey there, Todd! Well, we make allergy-relief recommendations largely on the basis of blood type, with some other mediating factors. Come to think of it, I don't even know your ABO type -- could ya post it? ABO, rhesus, secretor status, all give us a better idea of the individual's biochemistry and how foods & herbs will help or harm them. Thanks, dear!!

In the case of quercetin, its anti-inflammatory effects kick in within a day or two, as do its antioxidant powers. Subduing allergic response is a somewhat lengthier process, usually one to three weeks -- but it works in nearly everyone. A steady 2000 mg daily dose for that period should be sufficient, whereas for infection one can profit by eating 500mg caps like candy all day long, with plenty of water. Well, I'm exaggerating a bit, but 6-9 g per day is not an extreme dose when used to discourage sinusitis from becoming bronchitis, for instance -- and in that case should be accompanied by a good food-based C supp. Two or three 500s daily is adequate for long-term antioxidant uses. :-D

Hi Heidi, Thank you for the wonderful column. My husband and I both are type O positive secretors. And with that I know my two boys (age 2 and 4) are also O positive too. My older son has always been a picky eater taking in very little at mealtime. He is skinny and I’m a bit concerned of his health and growth. Though my younger boy started out a big eater, he’s beginning to take on his older brother’s eating habit. Do you have any suggestions in helping them to gain weight in a healthy way? Are there any O foods that can help with weight gain? My husband and I are trying to watch our food combination to keep proteins and starches separated from each other. Should the boys NOT be concerned with food combination? When I’m at work the boys are under the care of their grandparents who are non-believers of the blood type diet, therefore my boys are getting a lots of milk and wheat based foods (breads and crackers). By the way, from your website I learned that only about 20% of the populations are non-secretors. Does it mean the chance of my boys being secretors is very very high since their parents are both secretors? Thank you very much. God Bless. Carol

Hi, Carol! The situation of both parents being nonsecretors is the only one in which we know for sure the secretor status of the kids. Either of your boys could be a secretor or a nonsecretor, because the nonsecretor gene is recessive and can "hide" behind a parent's dominant Secretor gene. So, both your boys have to be tested to find out. ;-)

Well, the first thing I would do is have a nice sit-down chat with the grandparents. You might impress upon them that the boys act up and pick at food if they're fed certain things during the day. Any way you know of to get the point across is fine, no matter how simple or in what words. Just impress upon them how special these boys are, and how the grandparents can get involved in making sure they grow up strong and healthy.

Since your kids are there during work days, stock your parents' house with the foods they'll be eating during the day. Ezekiel bread, rye, rice crackers (lots of good ones on the market), things like that. You don't have to make all the changes overnight, but the sooner the better. Give your parents a short list of what the boys SHOULDN't eat -- sugar, pork, wheat, corn, no dairy except butter, potatoes, peanuts/peanut butter, apples, coconut, oranges/orange juice, etc. -- try to make up the list from avoids you figure they'd be fed at their grandparents' house or if eating out with them, it doesn't have to be a complete list of the avoids in the book. And suggest some substitutions, like sweet potatoes, turnips, greens, blueberries, almond butter, etc. Again, you may have to do some shopping and a sketch of a meal plan for them to make sure the kids have enough good foods on hand, and gramps & gramma aren't overwhelmed with the changes.

They certainly don't have to be concerned with food separation. Those boys will be fine! And they'll get the right foods just when they need them, during those fast-growing years. They'll settle down with their food habits and gain weight just fine if they're given plenty of activity and a calm & supportive atmosphere. Let me know if there's anything else I can offer here, Carol! and sorry for the very late reply, dear!! :-D

Heidi! I have a progress report and a slight problem going on. I've now been on the BTD eating regime for 3 solid weeks. I've lost approx. 8 lbs. The 1st two weeks I felt like a million dollars. Clarity, well-rested, excited about life, etc. This 3rd week, and now going into my 4th, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. My workouts are a complete struggle to get through, I've got horrid mental tension and neck aches, and weird body aches here and there, and because I feel so fatigued, there is some craving happening. But not so's that I haven't been able to control it. (Which is a miracle in itself, believe me!)

I get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I take all of the BTD supp's and in addition the Bladderwrack Supp, and the Stress Supp that NAP sells. I've also been taking some of the protocol suggestions in the Encyclopedia to rid myself of the Candidia. I also take Proberry and Larch and Brewer's Yeast. My typical day's eating is a breakfast shake made with 8-oz unsweetened Soy Milk, 8-oz cherry or pineapple juice, egg white protein powder, Brewer's Yeast, 1 banana, 1 tble flax seed oil, 1 tble flax seed powder and some stevia.

My mid morning snack is 1 slice of manna bread, 3 or 4 dried figs and walnuts. my lunch is usually beef stew made with turnips, onions, sweep potatos, carrots, celery, and beef broth, and then a pear or plum.

my mid afternoon snack is usually fruit of some sort. dinner is a romaine lettuce salad with eggs and sesame seeds and flax seeds and then either some sort of beneifical fish or a steak. this is generally how the eating goes.

during the day i have seltzer water with stevia and ice and green tea. (does the caffine in green tea cause us O's any problems becuase of caffine's effect as far as causing cravings?) I ask that becuase coffee always always always made me want sugar. I must get to the root of this fatigue! Am I taking too many supp's? Am I still de-toxing? I mean really! I want to feel strong and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the world with all this meat in my blood! ha..

I started trying to get more protein in as well, thinking that maybe i was not eating enough to cover my workout routine. I do an eliptical machine at the gym 3 times a week for 45 minutes; i hike for 1-1/2 hours 1 day a week and 2 days, i take an hour walk and then i take one day off for rest. I also do pushups, situps and some leg and arm work 3 times a week at the gym. Sometimes I think maybe i have bouts of chronic fatigue syndrome and possibly after i finish the protocol on the candida that I should take some for the CFS. I used to have silicone breast implants (Years ago - got them out in 97), and one of the implant envelopes had a hole in it and was slowing leaking. Maybe that is still affecting me somewhat. I do drink either seltzer or a small amount of fruit juice with my lunch and dinners and i think i've seen something here in the column about not drinking with dinner. Yes? No? Anyway, any help you can provide on this fatigue or if anyone out there has gone through this in the first part of going on the diet, please let me know, and maybe share what you did about it. Thanks so much Heidi. I sure to love your sense of humor! You are always so patient with all of us inquistive children out here! Christina

:-D Ok, you inquisitive kid! :-D If you're particularly sensitive to caffeine/theine (and lots of Os are, it stimulates an adrenal response that can mimic hypoglycemia), it's worth limiting the green tea to one cup per day, but I'm not convinced that's at the root of the achiness and fatigue. Yes, it is MOST likely detoxing and metabolic readjustment going on right now. Feeling patient? GOOD! ~~:-D However, here are some things that occurred to me looking at your daily diet (thanks for all the details, it REALLY helps!) --

About all that meat in your blood, hey! Know what? I don't think you're getting enough. Tee Hee! Take another gander at the frequencies for meat and fish. You should include some red meat daily, with a portion of poultry in the week and five of fish -- those being additional, me dear. We Os don't thrive especially well on protein powders, although they're OK for athletes as a fill-in between the meals. So I look at your breakfast and say "*ANNNGHT!* Doesn't Count!" (lol!)

And, to boost your pro-energy, anti-craving campaign, use veg gly instead of stevia to sweeten things. Just see if it doesn't make a world of difference.

Now: the main thing to do is get breakfast into the dinner slot, and vice-versa. I can't tell you how much this ratchets up everything: energy, body tone, wake/sleep schedule, just everything. Eat a thorough breakfast, with some root veg, greens, and meat. If it's easier for you, cook up some ground meat with tomatoes, onions, garlic, greens "hammered" separately and mixed in, salt & pepper, a few chili flakes if desired, and store it in the fridge for breakfast glop. Heated and topped with a fried egg or two, it's a protein powerhouse. Yeah, I know, it's not exactly Continental, but it's Paleolithic, and that's where we're from -- no Marschallin's hot chocolate for brekky for us. Count a soy milk serving as a bean serving, and include it during the week on that basis. ;-)

Have your salad at night, with a sprinkling of nuts and cold leftover veg like green beans, red peppers, you name it, and a toasted bit of manna bread with butter.

On what to do to protect from adverse effects due to the breast implant that leaked, I'm dead clueless, but I strongly suggest spending mucho hours searching the Net on that issue and reading everything you can find on it. Other than reducing other immune-stimulating substances, in the diet and environment for instance, I haven't anything to offer in that matter.

However, I hope the rest of the advice helps, Christina! :-D

i have been reading your valuable book live right 4 your type, and i am confused about my secretor or non secretor status isn't there any simple way to test my status that i can do at home rather going to all this procedure of shipping etc. pls. advice me i will be very thankful to u. Rehana

Hi, Rehana ~ Secretor status can only be established by laboratory testing, whether by saliva inhibition or blood test for Lewis type. It requires procedures which simply can't be adapted for home use. Wish we had a quick do-it-yourself version, but at least for now the state of technology hasn't provided one. ;-) but that said, doing the test is TRULY worthwhile -- and you only have to do it once! I hope you decide to go ahead with it ~~ take care, dear! :-D

Hi Heidi- I have started this question three times and have given up halfway through each time since I consider my situation overwhelming and HOW could a diet turn my life around? OK, fourth shot at this and I do hope you can help. I started the Atkins diet about 6 years ago and it solved my hypoglycemia problems, but I felt sooo deprived and it certainly did nothing for my other problems. The List: 1)Allergies. Have been on antihistamines (Zyrtec and now Tavist)for over a decade and none of the ones I tried helped with the post-nasal drip. Recently, doc put me on steroid nasal spray. I decided last night was the last snort even though it works and my sleeping has been better. Just don't want steroids. 2)Cervical Radiculopathy and degenerative effects. Had an injury three years ago at work and have at least one bulging disk in my cervical spine, level 6, where the brachial plexus emerges from the spinal column. This causes pain, sometimes tingling and numbness,in my neck, shoulders, arms and hands. As a result of my injury I am in severe pain 24/7/365 X3. Then there's the domino effect and for about a year now, my entire back and legs are involved as well. Family doc has me on oxycontin which helps me deal but is not the solution. Waiting now for legal bullsh*t to allow me to see a specialist since I am uninsured. Can't even walk aerobically since the swinging of my arms causes too much pain. 3)Blood in Urine, chronic hematuria, caused by the large and long-term doses of NSAIDs the docs had me on from the time of injury up to about a year ago. 4)Constipation has been worse, doc recently upped by oxycontin dose. Yes, I take 2 tablespoons milled flax a day. I dropped the psyllium, bad for an O right? 5)The Blues. Hate that D word. I haven't worked for the past two years and I am very concerned about my career. I have just about given up on the possibility of ever being able to do 'bench science' again. I do try to keep a positive attitude. 6) Wake up so frequently through the night that I wonder if I'm achieving REM. I certainly don't feel rested. This problem has been better since I dropped the wheat(beer) and stopped the post nasal drip... I started Dr. D'Adamo's plan about mid-January of this year. I noticed improvement immediately just with the elimination of wheat and dairy. Just found out that I am an O- secretor. I ordered the 4 Your Type Basics Pack and Respiratone and it will arrive in about a week. I will try to get stone root, stinging nettle, bladderwrack, larch arabinogalactan, and frankinsence/Boswellia from GNC. I do take ester C and wonder why acerola chery or rose hips derived C is better? I am taking quecetin as well; started a few weeks ago at the same time as the steroid nasal spray...so perhaps the nasal spray wasn't the solution for my drips but rather the quercetin?? I do need to tease apart the effects of the pharmaceuticals vs the supplements. Is there anything you think I am doing wrong and what else should I try? I am taking some hope from the fact that I do feel better since starting Dr. D'Adamo's wellness plan but I am impatient! It has been too long since I have been well and I am so scared of continually getting worse; my experience over the past 3 years since the injury. Thanks for your time. I have learned a lot from your column and check it out everyday. Judy

Hey there, Judy!

You have a number of concerns, and I truly understand your impatience! but the key to healing is giving the body the proper foods and rest, while trusting that it can and will heal itself. It will do the job for you, in miraculous ways, and in much less time than it took to develop the problems.

We prefer to use food-based supplements: a quarter-cup of rose hips soaked overnight in a cup of water and blended & added to a smoothie has far more "body-recognizable" vitamin C than synthetic supplements. Ester-C isn't going to harm you, but a food-based C will give more C for the money.

With an injury such as yours, physical therapy (to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine), and a powerful meditation practice such as the kriyas described in Meditation as Medicine by Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth, in conjunction with proper diet are essential to regain your strength and heal your injury. It CAN be done! I realize you may not have the personal means to cover physical therapy right now any more than you can afford the specialist, but I strongly urge you to pick up that book and read it cover to cover. Fear, anger, disappointment, frustration, are all discussed there in the context of healing -- which proceeds far more quickly once we relieve the body of the pressure of our anxieties and demands. It's a brilliant book, a companion to The Pain Cure, by the same authors.

I know you're in turmoil and pain, but do know that there are thousands of people who read this column -- and we all empathize with your situation and many have come from far worse circumstances and seen their entire lives turn around. We believe yours will be profoundly change for the better by following this plan, and I'm sure that anyone with similar experiences will write in with their suggestions as well. You're not alone, and you won't get worse unless you choose to do so. The way is open for you!

Best wishes, dear, and write again any time! :-D

Hi Heidi, In the group posted on 3-11-03,I just read Doreen's comment about having a frozen shoulder and needing to take Vioxx. I had a frozen rt. shoulder approx. 4 yrs ago d/t injury and had 3 different places of attachment that had occured along the scapula. I began seeing a chiropractor who was also a nutritionist and used Cox Distraction, Activator method, and multiple other alternative treatment modalities.

After a few treatments he was able to release those areas of attachment (which made a "popping" sound - no pain) and I regained full use of that shoulder and arm. I needed to do some shoulder strengthening exercises, which I still use today. Just thought she might want to consider another avenue of treatment.

Make sure that the Chiropractor is not just a "twist and crunch" guy...The methods my Chiropractor used are what has put my musculo-skeletal system back together again after 57 years of "leaping tall buildings in a single bound" and now that I'm following the "O-nonnie" BTD and using the BTD supplements I feel physically better than I ever have in my life!

Also one of the most important things I did was have our secretor status checked.(My husband is a secretor,I'm a "nonny") Here in the States the test is readily available so easy to do. It made a major difference for me.I was using lots of soy products and was wondering why I was still having problems. Enough said!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for diligently researching and answering all our questions! Jan

Oh, thank you SO much for that note on frozen shoulder, Jan! I just love being a part of such a great, knowledgeable and compassionate group of people!! And what a wonderful report -- yes, it makes a great difference, doesn't it? thanks again!! :-D

hello, I am a 36 year old mom to be (about 26 weeks)with a type B blood. My whole family is on your blood type diet and we are loving it. Since i am expecting now, do i need to add or change anything? How about the flax seed oil, should i keep taking it or not? thank you. alexis

Hi, Alexis! I understand that the Baby Book is now available -- that's what I'd suggest for you! See the home page, www.dadamo.com under "Library," and ask your local book shop. Very best wishes on your pregnancy, and do keep in touch!! :-D

Hi Heidi, for Jim and his wife with the 1.5 year old baby--I was wondering if they have tried to contact a local LaLeche League group for help in getting the breast feeding going again. He didn't say what specific problems caused them to have to pump breast milk and then the milk supply to decrease, but this is common when pumping because the pump doesn't stimulate the milk production as well as the baby's sucking. It is very possible to get the milk supply going again with some patience and help from La Leche League or perhaps a lactation consultant. There have even been adopted babies who were breastfed by mothers who have never been pregnant---it's tricky, but do-able so perhaps Jim and his wife could get a little assistance and get the breast milk going again. It also concerns me because they obviously have had some problems , so adding the additional chore of mixing up all kinds of homemade formulas may be too much stress for them. La Leche League is a wonderful organization full of dedicated experienced moms who have additional training in helping with breastfeeding. I encourage Jim to contact his local group if he hasn't already. Suzanna

Many thanks, dear! Jim, there you have it -- from Suzanna, an expert, believe me! :-D

Here's a chemistry question: I bought a package of frozen salmon patties at Trader Joe's. I was trying to get more fish in my diet and there's nothing worse than old fish, so I prefer frozen. Since I am single and rarely cook much for dinner, it really has to be convenient and fresh. (Especially now I'm in yoga class after work.)So now I'm hearing about the polyamine problem. I also see that there are many foods in LR4YT that block polyamine production (or absorbtion?). If I make sure to have green tea or parsley with my formerly frozen fish, is that better for me than not having fish as often? Or is it better to avoid it unless I buy fresh? The other problem is, I walk to work. The closest grocery is Trader Joe's and their fresh salmon is all farm-raised. Do I walk home from work and get in my car at rush hour to go to some other grocery to get fresh wild fish a few times a week? What really are the relative benefits of frozen, fresh, farmed or wild salmon? And can green tea or something else mitigate the problem? I have a little pond, but the gold fish are too wild to catch. Sandra

Welll..... I'd get in the car on a weekend morning and stock up on fresh wild fish, and freeze it yourself! It's the "flash freezing," not home freezing, which jacks up the polyamines in fish. Green tea, parsley, black cherry juice all block polyamines, so that's the ticket while you're using up your farmed and/or frozen fish. :-D

I love ripe fruit. However, as a committed consumer, over the years I have stopped buying it or taken it back to the store (especially mushy Red Delicious) to show my disappointment when the fruit does not live up to the "ripe," "sweet" (or with apples, "crunchy") claims. Having once tasted a ripe peach, sweet juice dripping down my face (actually, I seem to recall eating at least three in a row, standing under the tree, dripping on the ground), I won't buy those pretty sour wax-fruit-perfect peaches in stores. I've picked my own strawberries and I know that ripe ones are red all the way through with no white anywhere, and no need for added sugar. No matter how pretty they look, if they're white anywhere, they're sour. (Unfortunately, I only have a few plants and the bugs always get them before I do.) When you pick raspberries or blackberries, they're ripe when they fall off in your hand to a gentle tug and the core is red or purple, not white or green. I don't know what tree-ripened bananas taste like (thank goodness!), so I buy them and sometimes grapes (green grapes with a hint of yellow are sweet). I also have a plum tree and a hedge of pineapple guavas. They're ripe when the squirrels start eating them. I've been subsisting on dried or frozen fruit (which I hope was ripe, or else don't mind if it's tart) and occasional lucky purchases. I'm in southern California near the coast, and I don't think it gets cold enough for apricots, apples or peaches. Farmers Markets are no better than the supermarkets: they give consumers good-looking fruit with a shelf-life, picked days too early. Lucky "B," I can eat a whole watermelon over 2 days, but have a big problem when it disappoints. I know that ripe fruit is one step from decay, but what should I do? LR4YT tells me I need more of it. Is unripe fruit nutricious? Should I give up my consumer principles and buy it anyway? Sandra

Frozen fruit & veg are the best choices, when fresh is not available. Since the big fruit season is coming up, it's time to think about freezing your own "perfectly ripe" stuff as it appears -- I can't figure out why they don't have excellent fruit in your area! Oregon & Washington apples, apricots, plums, pears, etc. should be plentiful in your market during the summer and fall, no? That's the time to slice, dehydrate & bag them to store (or freeze) for the winter. I sure don't want you to buy underripe fruit! What the heck's going on in SoCal? It used to be overflowing with great fruit. Hey, how about oranges, lemons & limes at least? Sheesh!

Anyone out there living in Sandra's area with a tip or two? :-?

I have not had dramatic results from the diet, probably because I've been ignoring the quantity issues and just focusing on eliminating avoids, or because I was a healthy omnivorous "B" in the first place. But, now I've bought Live Right, and I have made my chart and a couple of issues become apparent. 1. I have been making a Membrane Fluidizer Cocktail daily. This was made with soymilk, banana, flaxseed oil and lethicin for a couple of years until the soy status change came to my attention (sigh--no wonder no results; almost as bad as finding out my honey-mustard was made with corn syrup, corn syrup solids and high-fructose corn syrup). Now I make it with about 10 oz of non-fat milk per day. Does the 2-5 oz. serving at 3-4 times a week of milk/yogurt, really mean a maximum of 20 oz. per week? Because I see that would mean giving up yogurt dressing, and several days of the cocktail, or else switching to juice. 2. With a 5-8 servings (1 Tbsp) limit on oil, I've used up my weekly allotment of oils already. Does this really mean I should give up my beneficial olive oil in order to have my neutral (but highly recommended) daily MFC? 3. Are the numbers of servings in LR4YT really minimum and maximum ranges? I note that the neutral vegetables are listed with minimums and maximums, but the beneficials only indicate there is no maximum, but give no minimum. Is there some minimum number of vegetable servings (whether beneficial or neutral) recommended per day? All of these questions make me wonder whether the quantity numbers are really a minimum-maximum range, or just a range of minimums... Sandra

:-D OK, first of all the MFC should be just fruit, oil & lecithin for best results. It was formulated for a specific balance of components, and adding milk or other protein sources skews that balance. So remove the milk from it and that takes care of your dairy frequency problem.

One or two servings of olive oil in addition to the MFC is perfectly fine.

The plan is not hard & fast on the "minimum daily requirement" of beneficial veg, so the spirit of the thing (as I understand and use it) is to choose beneficials over other vegetables when available, and that the frequency given for the "neutrals" is a kind of minimum for the beneficials. Those "unlimited" notes are meant to urge us to eat as much of the bennies as we can. Except for the instances in which "unlimited" is the byword, the frequency numbers are intended to be ranges from min to max. :-D hope this helps, dear! and thanks for your messages!! :-D

Where can I find Essene or Spelt Bread in UK? As I do not have time to do my own baking would an automatic bread machine help and are the ingredients readily available in UK? I am type O and my husband is B, we have a problem as we cannot find wheat free breads. Thank you in advance for your help. Irene